Sunday, June 19, 2016

CHULA VISTA, California—Add Andrea Geubelle (left/photo by Paul Merca) to the short list of Americans who have hit the Olympic qualifying standard in the triple jump.

Competing at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center High Performance Last Chance Olympic Qualifier meet, the University Place resident and Curtis HS grad jumped the exact distance needed for the Olympic standard—14 meters 15 centimeters (46-5.25) on her fourth jump of the day to win the competition.

Geubelle started with a mark of 44-5.75 (13.56m), then followed up with a wind-aided mark of 46-0 (14.02m).

In round 3, she jumped 45-1.25 (13.75m), then followed it up with the Olympic standard in round 4, with a negligible +0.1 meter per second wind.

Round 5 saw her jump 44-10.25 (13.67m), and finished the day with a leap of 45-6.5 (13.88m).

WSU alum Blessing Ufodiama was eighth with a jump of 44-0.25 (13.42m).

Geubelle’s mark is just short of her all-time personal best of 46-6.25 (14.18m) set three years ago.

Currently only Geubelle, and new American record holder and NCAA champion Keturah Orji of the University of Georgia have the Olympic standard. Orji jumped 47-8 (14.53m) at the NCAA championships in Eugene to claim the American record.

Spokane native Britney Henry won the women’s hammer with a toss of 228-5 (69.62m).

We are honored to receive this award, as it comes from our peers who passionately cover the sport, and strive to continue the legacy of excellence that the late Adam Jacobs sought before his untimely passing.

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About Me

Internationally respected track and field writer Paul Merca brings his take on the sport to paulmerca.blogspot.com.
Paul was the assistant director of communications for the 1984 USA Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Olympia, WA., and public relations director for the 1999 USA Cross Country Championships in Tacoma, WA.
The current public address announcer for the University of Washington's home track and field meets, Merca's been a media assistant to the USA national team (2001-11, 13, 15) at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
His vast knowledge of the sport has been utilized by many of the country's sports television networks, and is a senior writer to Northwest Runner magazine. He's covered twelve IAAF World Track & Field Championships, and two Olympics.
Merca graduated from Seattle's Franklin High School in 1977, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1981 in Communications.
He competed in track and cross country at Franklin, and ran cross country at the University of Washington.